Packing box

ABSTRACT

A packing box includes a plurality of cushioning members, a plurality of carrier members and a cover member. Each of the cushioning members includes multiple length-wise retaining plates and multiple width-wise retaining plates arranged in a staggered form to define a plurality of receiving portions for receiving the articles therein. The carrier members are arranged in a stack form and having respective confining spaces for confining the cushioning members in position. The cover member shelters the cushioning members, the carrier members and the articles.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packing box, and more particularly to a packing box for encasing a great number of electronic components or electronic apparatuses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With increasing development of global marketing, many commodity products are exported all over the world. For transportation by ships for example, the commodity products are encased in packing boxes. During transportation, the packing boxes are frequently loaded and uploaded by forklifts and/or cranes and thus the commodity products are readily suffered from impact or shock. For protecting the commodity products from being damaged by impact or shock, the packing boxes are often equipped with a cushioning space.

Especially when electronic apparatuses and electronic components are transported, the structure of the packing box is more critical because they are sensitive to impact or shock.

FIG. 1( a) is a schematic exploded view illustrating a packing box for encasing electronic apparatuses or electronic components according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1( a), the packing box 10 includes an upper cover 102, a plurality of cushioning members 103, at least one partition plate 104 and a cover body 105. Each of these cushioning members 103 includes multiple length-wise retaining plates 103 a and multiple width-wise retaining plates 103 b, which are arranged in a staggered form. Consequently, a plurality of receiving portions 103 c are defined by the length-wise retaining plates 103 a and the width-wise retaining plates 103 b for receiving electronic apparatuses or electronic components 101 therein. Every two cushioning members 103 are separated by one partition plate 104. In the embodiment of FIG. 1( a), for each cushioning member 103, three length-wise retaining plates 103 a and three width-wise retaining plates 103 b cooperatively define four receiving portions 103 c. Since there are two cushioning members 103, the packing box 10 has eight receiving portions 103 c for encasing eight electronic apparatuses or electronic components 101 therein.

For packing the electronic apparatuses or electronic components 101, the lower cushioning member 103 is firstly placed in the cover body 105 and then four electronic apparatuses or electronic components 101 are contained in the receiving portions 103 c of the lower cushioning member 103. Subsequently, the partition plate 104 is placed on the lower cushioning member 103 and the upper cushioning member 103 is placed on the partition plate 104. Next, the other four electronic apparatuses or electronic components 101 are encased in the receiving portions 103 c of the upper cushioning member 103. Afterwards, the upper cover 102 is placed on the upper cushioning member 103 and the resulting structure is wrapped. In a case that some electronic components 101 are erroneously encased by the packing box 10, the cushioning members 103 and the partition plates 104 overlying the erroneously encased electronic components 101 should be removed from the packing box 10. After the erroneously encased electronic components 101 are replaced, the overlying cushioning members 103 and partition plates 104 are placed on the original places again. Therefore, the process of replacing the erroneously encased electronic components is very inconvenient.

Please refer to FIG. 1( a) again. The cover body 105 has a thickness d0. For preventing from impact or shock in the length-wise direction, each of the two outermost length-wise retaining plates 103 a is separated from the inner wall of the cover body 105 by a first redundant distance d1, and thus two cushioning spaces D1 are defined between the outermost length-wise retaining plates 103 a and the inner wall of the cover body 105. For preventing from impact or shock in the width-wise direction, each of the two outermost width-wise retaining plates 103 b is separated from the inner wall of the cover body 105 by a second redundant distance d2, and thus two cushioning spaces D2 are defined between the outermost width-wise retaining plates 103 b and the inner wall of the cover body 105. For preventing from impact or shock in the vertical direction, the receiving portion 103 c is higher than the electronic component 101. For example, if there is a height difference d3 between the electronic component 101 and the upper edge of the receiving portion 103 c, an additional cushioning space D3 is defined between the electronic component 101 and the upper edge of the receiving portion 103 c. Unfortunately, these cushioning spaces D1, D2 and D3 fail to receive electronic apparatuses or electronic components 101 therein.

For transporting a great amount of electronic apparatuses or electronic components 101, multiple packing boxes 10 are stacked in both of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. These stacked packing boxes 10 are then placed on a pallet 11. Conventionally, since the pallet 11 is determined according to the capacity of forklifts or pallet truck, the area of the pallet 11 is constant. As shown in FIG. 1( b), the packing boxes 10 are stacked as two layers in the vertical direction and each layer includes eight packing boxes 10, thereby resulting in a transportation unit 1. As a consequence, a total of sixteen packing boxes 10 are supported on the pallet 11. Provided that each packing box 10 contains eight electronic apparatuses or electronic components 101, a total of 128 electronic components 101 are supported on the pallet 11. These sixteen packing boxes 10 are then wrapped by tapes (or plastic film 13) and/or fixed by ropes 12 in order to prevent from detachment during transportation.

In the X-direction of the transportation unit 1, the redundant length is substantially equal to the sum of eight first redundant distances d1 and eight thicknesses d0 (i.e. 8d1+8d0). In the Y-direction of the transportation unit 1, the redundant width is substantially equal to the sum of four second redundant distances d2 and four thicknesses d0 (i.e. 4d2+4d0). In the Z-direction of the transportation unit 1, the redundant height is substantially equal to the sum of four height differences d3 and four thicknesses d0 (i.e. 4d3+4d0). That is, the unavailable volume of the transportation unit 1 is equal to (8d1+8d0)×(4d2+4d0)×(4d3+4d0). The unavailable volume means resource waste and is detrimental to the packing process.

In views of the above-described disadvantages resulted from the prior art, the applicant keeps on carving unflaggingly to develop an improved packing box for encasing a great number of electronic apparatuses or electronic components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a packing box of the present invention encasing a greater amount of electronic components by reducing the unavailable volume. As a consequence, the packing box of the present invention may be produced in a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly manner.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packing box for encasing a plurality of articles. The packing box includes a plurality of cushioning members, a plurality of carrier members and a cover member. Each of the cushioning members includes multiple length-wise retaining plates and multiple width-wise retaining plates arranged in a staggered form to define a plurality of receiving portions for receiving the articles therein. The carrier members are arranged in a stack form and have respective confining spaces for confining the cushioning members in position. The cover member shelters the cushioning members, the carrier members and the articles.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packing box for encasing a plurality of articles. The packing box includes a cushioning member, a carrier member and a cover member. The cushioning member includes multiple length-wise retaining plates and multiple width-wise retaining plates, which are arranged in a staggered form to define a plurality of receiving portions for receiving the articles therein. The carrier member has a confining space for confining the cushioning member in position. The cover member shelters the cushioning member, the carrier member and the articles.

The above contents of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1( a) is a schematic exploded view illustrating a packing box for encasing electronic apparatuses or electronic components according to the prior art;

FIG. 1( b) is a schematic perspective view illustrating several packing boxes of FIG. 1( a) supported on a pallet;

FIG. 2( a) is a schematic exploded view of a packing box for encasing electronic apparatuses or electronic components according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2( b) is a schematic perspective view illustrating the packing box of FIG. 2( a) supported on a pallet;

FIG. 3( a) is a schematic perspective view illustrating a variation of the carrier member; and

FIG. 3( b) is a schematic perspective view illustrating several carrier members of FIG. 3( a) arranged in a stack form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.

Referring to FIG. 2( a), a schematic exploded view of a packing box for encasing electronic apparatuses or electronic components according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 2( a), the packing box 20 includes an outer frame 201, an upper cover 202, at least one cushioning member 203, at least one carrier member 204 and a base 205.

Depending on the practical applications, the upper cover 202 is made of rigid or flexible material.

In some embodiment, the packing box 20 includes a plurality of cushioning members 203. Each of these cushioning members 203 includes multiple length-wise retaining plates 203 a and multiple width-wise retaining plates 203 b, which are arranged in a staggered form. As a consequence, a plurality of receiving portions 203 c are defined by the length-wise retaining plates 203 a and the width-wise retaining plates 203 b for receiving electronic apparatuses or electronic components (not shown) therein.

The carrier members 204 are used to confining and supporting respective cushioning members 203 in positions. Each of the carrier members 204 includes a carrier body 204 a and a bottom plate 204 b. A confining space 204 c is defined by the carrier body 204 a and the bottom plate 204 b. The height of the carrier body 204 a is substantially identical to that of the cushioning member 203. The area of the bottom plate 204 b is substantially identical to that of the cushioning member 203. When the cushioning member 203 is received in the confining space 204 c of a corresponding carrier member 204, the cushioning member 203 is tight-fitted to sidewalls of the confining space 204 c. As a consequence, the cushioning member 203 and the electronic apparatuses or electronic components contained therein will not move with respect to the carrier member 204 during transportation.

Moreover, the number, the relative distance between any two length-wise retaining plates 203 a and the relative distance between any two width-wise retaining plates 203 b are variable. As a consequence, the dimensions of these receiving portions 203 c are adjustable according to the sizes of the electronic apparatuses or electronic components to be encased therein. In other words, different carrier members 204 of the same dimension may be used to encase electronic apparatuses or electronic components of different sizes. Since the dimensions of all carrier members 204 are identical, these carrier members 204 may be orderly arranged in a stack form. In a case that some electronic components are erroneously encased by the packing box 20, only the carrier members 204 which support the erroneously encased electronic components need to be replaced. Therefore, the process of replacing the erroneously encased electronic components is very convenient.

Please refer to FIG. 2( a) again. The outer frame 201 is arranged between the upper cover 202 and the base 205 for enclosing and protecting the plurality of carrier members 204. The cushioning members 203, the carrier members 204 and the electronic components are supported by the base 205. The peripheries of the upper cover 202 and the base 205 have recesses 202 a and 205 a, respectively. After the packing box 20 is assembled, a fixing element 22 such as a rope or a tape is wrapped around the packing box 20 through the recesses 202 a and 205 a, thereby preventing detachment of the packing box 20.

Hereinafter, a process of assembling the packing box 20 will be illustrated as follows with reference to FIGS. 2( a) and 2(b). First of all, the cushioning members 203 are mounted on respective carrier members 204. Then, the electronic components to be transported are placed in the receiving portions 203 c of the cushioning members 203. Next, the carrier members 204 are placed on the base 205 and stacked in a vertical direction. Subsequently, the stacked carrier members 204 are enclosed by the outer frame 201 and the upper cover 22 is placed on the resulting structure. After the packing box 20 is assembled, a fixing element 22 such as a rope or a tape is wrapped around the packing box 20 through the recesses 202 a and 205 a to fix the packing box 20. Afterwards, the packing box 20 is placed on the pallet 11. Optionally, the packing box 20 and the pallet 11 are cooperatively encapsulated by a plastic film 23 to further facilitate fixing the packing box 20. Alternatively, the packing box 20 is encapsulated by a plastic film 23 and then the packing box 20 and the pallet 11 are cooperatively wrapped by the fixing element 22. It is preferred that the area of the base 205 is substantially identical to that of the pallet 11.

Please refer to FIG. 2( a) again. The carrier member 204 has a thickness d0′, the outer frame 201 has a thickness d4′ and the base 205 has a thickness d5′. For preventing from impact or shock in the length-wise direction, each of the two outermost length-wise retaining plates 203 a is separated from the inner wall of the outer frame 201 by a first redundant distance d1′, and thus two cushioning spaces D1′ are defined between the outermost length-wise retaining plates 203 a and the inner wall of the outer frame 201. For preventing from impact or shock in the width-wise direction, each of the two outermost width-wise retaining plates 203 b is separated from the inner wall of the outer frame 201 by a second redundant distance d2, and thus two cushioning spaces D2′ are defined between the outermost width-wise retaining plates 203 b and the inner wall of the outer frame 201. Since the dimensions of these receiving portions 203 c are adjustable according to the sizes of the electronic apparatuses or electronic components to be encased therein, the cushioning spaces D1′ and D2′ are largely reduced. As shown in FIG. 2( b), the assembled packing box 20 is placed on a pallet 11, which has the same area as the assembled packing box 20. In the X-direction of the packing box 20, the redundant length is substantially equal to the sum of two first redundant distances d1′, two thicknesses d0′ of the carrier member 204, two thicknesses d4′ of the outer frame 201 and two thicknesses d4′ of the base 205 (i.e. 2d1′+2d0′+2d4′+2d5′). Because the magnitudes d0′, d4′ and d5′ are much smaller than the magnitude d1′, the redundant length of the packing box 20 is substantially equal to 2d1′. Likewise, in the Y-direction, the redundant width of the packing box 20 is substantially equal to 2d2′. In the Z-direction, the redundant height is substantially equal to the total height differences between the electronic component and the upper edge of the receiving portion 203 c. In comparison with the prior art, the unavailable volume is largely reduced. In other words, the packing box 20 of the present invention may encase more electronic component than the conventional packing boxes 10 if the area of the pallet 11 and the overall volume are identical. For example, as shown in FIG. 2( a), the packing box 20 has five cushioning members 203 and each cushioning member 203 has forty receiving portions 203 c. That is, a total of 200 electronic components may be encased in the packing box 20. As a result, the packing box 20 is very suitable for encasing a greater amount of electronic components in a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly manner.

It is noted that, however, those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. For example, each carrier member 204 further includes two complimentary coupling structures at opposite surfaces thereof for facilitating fixing the carrier member 204. As shown in FIG. 3( a), there are a protrusion structure 204 d and a notch structure 204 e on a side of the carrier body 204 a of the carrier member 204. The protrusion structure 204 d of one carrier member 204 is engaged with the notch structure 204 e of the adjacent carrier member 204 such that these carrier members 204 are orderly arranged in a stack form, as can be seen in FIG. 3( b). Since the protrusion structures 204 d are engaged with the adjacent notch structures 204 e, the possibility of sliding or falling down the carrier members 204 are minimized.

From the above description, the packing box of the present invention is suitable for encasing a greater amount of electronic components because the unavailable volume is largely reduced. As a consequence, the packing box of the present invention may be produced in a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly manner.

While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. 

1. A packing box for encasing a plurality of articles, said packing box comprising: a plurality of cushioning members, wherein each of said cushioning members includes multiple length-wise retaining plates and multiple width-wise retaining plates arranged in a staggered form to define a plurality of receiving portions for receiving said articles therein; a plurality of carrier members arranged in a stack form and having respective confining spaces for confining said cushioning members in position; and a cover member for sheltering said cushioning members, said carrier members and said articles.
 2. The packing box according to claim 1 further comprising a base for supporting said stacked carrier members and said cushioning members.
 3. The packing box according to claim 2 wherein said packing box is further supported on a pallet, wherein the area of said base is substantially identical to that of said pallet.
 4. The packing box according to claim 2 further comprising an outer frame, which is arranged between said upper cover and said base for enclosing and protecting said carrier members and said cushioning members.
 5. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein each of said carrier members further includes a carrier body, wherein the height of said carrier body is substantially identical to that of a corresponding cushioning member.
 6. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein each of said carrier members further includes a bottom plate, wherein the area of said bottom plate is substantially identical to that of a corresponding cushioning member.
 7. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein each of said carrier members further includes two complimentary coupling structures at opposite surfaces thereof for facilitating coupling said carrier member with an adjacent carrier member.
 8. The packing box according to claim 7 wherein said two complimentary coupling structures include a protrusion structure and a notch structure.
 9. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein said cover member is an upper cover disposed on the top of said stacked carrier members.
 10. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein said cover member is a plastic film.
 11. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein said cover member further includes one or more first recesses.
 12. The packing box according to claim 11 wherein said base further includes one or more second recesses corresponding to said first recesses.
 13. The packing box according to claim 12 wherein one or more fixing elements are wrapped around said packing box through said first recesses of said cover member and said second recesses of said base.
 14. The packing box according to claim 13 wherein said fixing elements are ropes or tapes.
 15. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein said articles are electronic apparatuses or electronic components.
 16. A packing box for encasing a plurality of articles, said packing box comprising: a cushioning member including multiple length-wise retaining plates and multiple width-wise retaining plates, which are arranged in a staggered form to define a plurality of receiving portions for receiving said articles therein; a carrier member having a confining space for confining said cushioning member in position; and a cover member for sheltering said cushioning member, said carrier member and said articles. 